I thought this was going to be a couple of competitive matches..
Unfortunately for Atlético, Cristiano Ronaldo was rather in the mood. In truth, Real were the far, far better side on the night although, until Ronaldo scored his second after 73 minutes, it did look like good goalkeeping & poor finishing might keep the visitors in the tie..

Juve are all but through to the final. Monaco will need to do something pretty spectacular in Italy to recover from the first leg, but they are known as an attacking side!!
Lyon may have scored 1 away from home in their first leg, but the home leg looks like another mountain to climb if they are going through as well.
3 semi-final first legs played so far & they are all pointing to a winner already. Tonight it is United's & Celta Vigo's turn...

Celta Vigo 0 Manchester United 1
This was a great win for United and thoroughly deserved.A great free kick by Rashford midway through the second half won the tie.United completely dominated the first half and it was only some good saves by the Celta keeper that kept them in the tie.Celta improved in the second half but rarely looked like breaking down United.
I did expect more from the hosts who were largely disappointing.
Bad news for United with another injury......Ashley Young going off with a hamstring injury after just 11 minutes,after coming on as a sub,which meant a return to action for Chris Smalling.
Jose says he will rest players for the Arsenal game who have put in a lot of playing time recently,so unlikely to be no Bailly,Herrera,Valencia and Rashford at the very least.
But,touch wood,looking good for the final in Stockholm on May 24th. [-o<

Just when I thought our chance had passed,you go and save the best for last.

All too easy for Juve. Monaco are a nice attacking football playing side but they were beaten at home & away & can have few complaints as they were outclassed.
It looks like it will be Real in the final, but either Madrid will pose an interesting contrast in styles for the final..

Real had done enough in the first leg to be comfortable, but when Atlético stormed into an early 2 nil lead it looked like it was game on. The visitors graped one back just before the break though to put themselves back into command.
It does prove that Real are vulnerable & can be beat, although whether Juve will be willing to show quite that much attacking aggression remains to be seen.
It should be an interesting final in Cardiff though...

It looked game over before it started for Lyon as they were 4 - 1 down. That looked even more certain after 27 minutes when Ajax scored again. But the home side suddenly came alive as the first half was coming to an end & scored 2 in a minute at the death. They managed to get another with 10 minutes remaining & then the visitors had a man sent off with 6 minutes on the clock. Ajax creaked, but held on.

United also looked in the box seat before their leg started & that improved after quarter of an hour with another goal. However, as has happened so often this season, they couldn't provide the killing touch & Vigo pulled one back with 5 minutes remaining. The goal was quickly followed by a full team skirmish that saw both sides reduced to 10 men. It was a bit of a 'handbags at dawn' affair really that showed United's nervousness more than anything else. With 6 minutes of added time it became 11 minutes of end to end stuff with a lot of effort expended but very little skill. Vigo could have scored (& so won the tie on away goals) with virtually the last kick of the match, but didn't..

Good luck to United as they try to make something of their season.
Given the lack of penetration that they have so often exhibited in the league this year, Jose might well be best off leaving some of the oldsters on the bench & giving the lads that played in their last Old Trafford game a go.
With his track record of not bringing on young players unless their is no other option, I don't think that stands much chance of flying though..

Here is wishing success to the inexperienced, young underdogs Ajax players tomorrow night, when they face up to the galaxy of Man. Utd's vastly experienced international. stars. Assuming, as is virtually a certainty, that The Mouth will pursue his standard 'tactics of instructing his designated hatchet men to target their opponents star players, it is perhaps a pity the match will not be refereed by the official who was in charge of the Arsenal v Everton games, last Sunday.!!!

Lets hope Manchester United triumph tonight for the memory of those affected by the terrible bomb blast in Manchester yesterday and also for the good people of Manchester and the UK.
Given the circumstances,its a shame mathusalah80 couldn't hold back on his anti-Manchester rhetoric for once.
Kick off is in Stockholm at 19.45pm GMT which equates to 01.45am Thursday morning here in Thailand.

Just when I thought our chance had passed,you go and save the best for last.

United lift the trophy and now qualify for the UEFA Champions League group stages.
Not as comfortable for United as the scoreline would suggest.The young Ajax side played some pretty football but were lacking in the final third.
I was particularily impressed with the no.9 Traore and the no.5 Sanchez.
For United,all the defence played well but my men of the match were Herrera and the much maligned Fellaini.

Just when I thought our chance had passed,you go and save the best for last.

What the f was that fiasco before the final last night ....... a few seconds silence (15 - 20) a booming voice breaking the silence over the tanoy and then chanting and applauding for about another 30 odd seconds

How on earth can you stand there and APPLAUD the fact that some moron has just murdered innocent people?